KR20140027403A - Method for discharging absorptive article - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a method for discharging an absorbent article capable of improving the yield by reliably discharging only the absorbent article including the joint portion. The method for discharging an absorbent article PD according to the present invention includes the steps of forming a joint P1 in which the end portion of the continuous web WB in use and the end portion of the next continuous web WB are joined together, On the basis of the length of the continuous web WB from the cutting position P1 to the cutting position P2 and the dimension L1 of the absorbent article PD in the machine direction MD of the continuous web WB, A step of controlling the supply timing of the continuous web WB so that the absorbent article P1 is positioned at the center of the absorbent article PD; and the step of separating only the absorbent article PD including the seam P1 from the production line 10 , And discharging the absorbent article (PD) in the middle of the production line (10).

Description

[0001] METHOD FOR DISCHARGING ABSORPTIVE ARTICLE [0002]

The present invention relates to a method of discharging an absorbent article used in a production line of an absorbent article.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper or a sanitary napkin is manufactured by using a production line having an absorbent body or the like successively arranged on a continuous web conveyed by a belt conveyor or the like, and a process of folding and cutting the continuous web It is common.

In such a manufacturing line, a discharge mechanism is generally provided in which the absorbent article determined to be defective is removed from the production line, and the absorbent article is discharged from the middle of the production line. Since the production line is operated at a high speed, usually a plurality of front and rear absorbent articles including the absorbent article determined to be defective are continuously discharged.

Therefore, there is known a discharge method in which a plurality of absorbent articles are printed after printing a number, a symbol, or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Concretely, a number of consecutive numbers, circles, triangles, or other symbols are printed on the plurality of absorbent articles, and a plurality of absorbent articles on which the numbers or symbols are printed are discharged.

According to such a discharging method, it is possible to allow the operator to easily set the discharge timing of the absorbent article so that the position of the absorbent article determined to be defective is substantially centered (e.g., the third one if five are discharged) out of the discharged plurality of absorbent articles .

Patent Document 1: JP-A-2002-791187 (page 3, Fig. 1)

However, the conventional method of discharging the absorbent article described above has the following problems. That is, a certain number of absorbent articles that are not defective in processing are also discharged together with the defective absorbent articles, and the discharged absorbent articles are not handled as products, thus hindering improvement in yield.

Particularly, the continuous web is moved from the used disk roll to the next disk roll by using an accumulator which performs storage and discharge of the continuous web as the distance between the dancer rolls which give the tension to the continuous web is expanded and reduced By attaching, the production line is supplied without stopping. However, the absorbent article including the joints of the continuous web needs to be handled as defective, but it is difficult to reliably discharge only the absorbent article including such joints.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of discharging an absorbent article which can improve the yield by surely discharging only the absorbent article including the joint part.

A feature of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a continuous web (continuous web WB), comprising the steps of: disposing an absorber (absorber AB) on a continuous web (continuous web WB) (Joint portion P1) connecting the end portion of the continuous web and the start end portion of the next continuous web, and a step of joining the end portion of the continuous web and the start end portion of the next continuous web, (Absorbent article (PD)) used in a production line (production line 10) of an absorbent article including a step of forming an absorbent article On the basis of the length of the continuous web up to the cutting position (cutting position P2) of the continuous web and the dimension (dimension L1) of the absorbent article in the conveying direction of the continuous web, (Center portion (CT)) of the absorbent article To processes for controlling the timing of supply of the continuous web and, and detached from only the above-mentioned production line absorbent article comprising at least the joint portion, and said absorbent article to a base comprises the step of discharging from a certain point of the production line.

1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a production line 10 of an absorbent article according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a discharge device 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing a flow of the discharging operation of the absorbent article PD in the production line 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Next, an embodiment of a method of discharging an absorbent article according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. It should be noted, however, that the drawings are schematic and that the proportions of the respective dimensions and the like are different from those of the real world.

Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be judged based on the following description. Also, the drawings may include mutually different portions or proportions of the dimensions.

(1) Overall outline of manufacturing line

Fig. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a production line 10 of an absorbent article according to the present embodiment. The production line 10 is constituted by a plurality of apparatuses for manufacturing an absorbent article PD having an absorbent body AB that absorbs liquid such as an absorbent article, specifically, a disposable diaper, a sanitary napkin and a panty liner . The absorber AB is made of pulp, an absorbent polymer or the like.

The production line 10 is a production line that transports a continuous web WB which is a continuous nonwoven fabric or a resin film toward the machine direction MD and arranges the absorber AB on the continuous web WB to be transported, The absorbent article PD is finally manufactured by folding or cutting while conveying the absorbent article PD.

That is, the manufacturing line 10 includes a step of disposing the absorber AB on the continuous web WB to be conveyed and a step of disposing the continuous web WB on which the absorber AB is disposed, And cutting at every predetermined interval in the direction MD (conveying direction).

The continuous web WB is sequentially unwound from the original roll 210 or the original roll 220. However, since it is necessary to switch from the original original roll to the next original roll, , And a step of connecting the continuous web WB without stopping the production line 10. For example, the production line 10 is unrolled from the original roll 210 and is fed to the end of the continuous web WB currently in use and to the continuous web WB which is used next and which is unwound from the original roll 220. [ And a step of forming a joining portion P1 to which a leading end portion of the joining portion P1 is joined.

Specifically, the production line 10 includes a transport device 110, a product cutter 120, a discharge device 130, and an accumulator 200. The production line 10 also includes a detection control unit 310 and a camera 311 to detect the shape and state of the continuous web WB and the manufactured absorbent article PD to be conveyed. The production line 10 also includes a timing control unit 260 for controlling the timing of supplying the continuous web WB.

The conveying apparatus 110 conveys the continuous web WB at a high speed along the machine direction MD and is constituted by a plurality of belt conveyors. A plurality of through holes are formed in accordance with the conveying position and the type of the continuous web WB or the absorbent article PD to be conveyed, and a suction type belt conveyor having a suction function is used as needed.

The product cutter 120 cuts the continuous web WB on which the absorbent article PD is disposed at a predetermined interval (i.e., the product length of the absorbent article PD). The product cutter 120 is constituted by a cutter roll provided with a cutting blade and rotating in the machine direction (MD), and an anvil roll similarly rotating in the machine direction (MD) so as to face the cutter roll.

The discharging device 130 separates the absorbent article PD having the defective portion from the manufacturing line 10 and discharges the absorbent article PD in the middle of the manufacturing line 10. [ The absorbent article PD including the joint portion P1 of the disk roll 210 and the disk roll 220 is also subjected to discharge.

The discharging device 130 includes a guide bar (not shown) for guiding the absorbent article PD being conveyed to a discharge route, and a suction type belt conveyor arranged toward the discharge route side. Particularly, in the present embodiment, in order to improve the yield of the absorbent article PD, the discharging device 130 is configured to include only the absorbent article PD having the defective portion or the absorbent article PD having the defective portion, So that the front and rear absorbent articles PD adjacent to the absorbent article PD are discharged.

As described above, since the absorbent article PD including the seam P1 is also subjected to the discharge, the discharging device 130 is provided only with the absorbent article PD including at least the seam P1 The absorbent article PD is removed from the production line 10, and the absorbent article PD is discharged from the middle of the production line 10. [

The accumulator 200 includes a disk roll 210, a disk roll 220, a dancer roll 230, and a motor 250. The accumulator 200 performs the storage and discharge of the continuous web WB as the distance between the plurality of dancer rolls 230 is increased or decreased.

Specifically, the plurality of dancer rolls 230 are connected through the support plate, and impart a predetermined tension to the continuous web WB being conveyed.

The accumulator 200 expands and reduces the distance between the dancer rolls 230 in the horizontal direction (the transverse direction in Fig. 1) to increase the storage amount of the continuous web WB supplied to the transport apparatus 110 . That is, when the distance is expanded, the amount of the continuous web WB is increased, and when the distance between the dancer rolls 230 is reduced, the amount of the continuous web WB is reduced. In order to detect the position of the moving dancer roll 230, a sensor 240 is installed.

At the time of switching from the disk roll 210 to the disk roll 220 (or vice versa), the distance between the dancer rolls 230 is increased to increase the amount of storage of the continuous web WB. Thus, in a period of time during which the continuous web WB stored in the accumulator 200 is released, the switching from the original roll 210 to the original roll 220, i.e., the joint P1, The continuous web WB can be connected without stopping the continuous web WB.

The accumulator 200 also includes a motor 250 and a timing controller 260. The feed rate of the continuous web WB is controlled based on the position of the dancer roll 230 detected by the sensor 240. [ The motor 250 and the timing controller 260 determine the feeding speed of the continuous web WB based on the position of the dancer roll 230 detected by the sensor 240 and determine the feeding speed of the continuous web WB Timing.

More specifically, the timing control unit 260 determines the supply speed of the continuous web WB based on the position of the dancer roll 230 and confirms whether the dancer roll 230 is moving to a predetermined position And determines the supply speed of the continuous web WB, thereby controlling the timing of forming the joint P1.

The production line 10 includes the detection control unit 310 and the camera 311 to detect the shape and state of the continuous web WB and the manufactured absorbent article PD to be conveyed as described above. The detection control unit 310 is connected to a plurality of cameras 311 provided at predetermined positions (for example, immediately after each process) on the production line 10. [

The detection control unit 310 detects the timing at which the absorbent article PD having the defective portion is discharged based on the image indicating the shape or the state of the continuous web WB or the absorbent article PD picked up by the camera 311 And the discharge time to the discharge device 130. As a result, only the absorbent article PD having the defective portion can be discharged, or the absorbent article PD having the defective portion and the front and rear absorbent articles PD adjacent to the absorbent article PD can be discharged . The detection control unit 310 also instructs the discharge device 130 to discharge the absorbent article PD including the joint P1.

(2) Outline configuration of the discharging device of the absorbent article

2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the discharging device 130. Fig. 2, the discharging device 130 separates the absorbent article PD including the joint P1 from the production line 10, separates the absorbent article PD from the production line 10, . In the present embodiment, a double-sided tape is used for forming the joint P1, that is, for joining the end portion of the continuous web WB currently in use to the end portion of the continuous web WB used next . It is also possible to use a heat seal or the like in place of the double-sided tape to form the joint P1. However, since the required storage amount of the continuous web WB in the accumulator 200 increases, Is completed.

The joint P1 is formed in the center portion CT of the absorbent article PD. The central portion CT is a region of 30% or less of the dimension L1 of the previous absorbent article PD from the center of the absorbent article PD in the machine direction MD (transport direction). That is, the central portion CT is a region of 60% of the dimension L1 based on the center of the absorbent article PD in the machine direction MD. Therefore, the joint P1 is controlled by the accumulator 200 so as not to be located in an area of 20% of the dimension L1 from the end of the absorbent article PD in the machine direction MD.

The purpose of forming the joint P1 in the central portion CT is to prevent the joint P1 from hanging on a plurality of (two) absorbent articles PD, It is not always necessary to form the joint P1 in the region of 60% of the dimension L1 based on the center of the absorbent article PD. For example, the center portion CT may be an area up to about 80% of the dimension L1 based on the center of the absorbent article PD in the machine direction MD.

As shown in Fig. 2, the absorbent article PD including the seam P1 is released from the production line 10 and guided to the discharge route (see the arrow in the figure). The absorbent article PD not including the joint P1 is conveyed to the next step.

(3) Discharging operation of the absorbent article

Fig. 3 shows a flow of the discharging operation of the absorbent article PD in the production line 10. Fig. Specifically, Fig. 3 shows an operational flow of the production line 10 relating to the discharge of the absorbent article PD including the joint P1.

3, the accumulator 200 includes an end portion of a continuous web WB currently in use (for example, a continuous web WB unrolled from the disk roll 210) and a continuous web WB The continuous web WB is unwound from the web roll WB (e.g., the continuous web WB unrolled from the disk roll 220), and the joint P1 is provided (S10).

The accumulator 200 detects the cutting position P2 of the continuous web WB in the process of cutting the continuous web WB in which the absorbent AB is disposed by the product cutter 120 from the joint P1 1) and the dimension L1 of the absorbent article PD in the machine direction MD of the continuous web WB, the length of the continuous web WB of the continuous web WB, (Step S20).

More specifically, the accumulator 200 is rotated by the rotation speed of the motor 250 or the rotation speed of the dancer roll 230 (see FIG. 2) so that the joint P1 is located at the center portion CT of the absorbent article PD in the machine direction MD ), And controls the supply timing of the continuous web WB.

More specifically, the timing controller 260 of the accumulator 200 determines the length of the continuous web WB on the conveying route from the position of the joint P1 to the cutting position P2 shown in Fig. 1, The amount of the continuous web WB is changed by adjusting the distance between the dancer rolls 230 based on the dimension L1 of the continuous web WB. That is, the accumulator 200 controls the length of the continuous web WB from the position of the joint P1 to the cut position P2 shown in Fig. 1, and the joint portion P1 is located at the center portion CT , The storage amount of the continuous web WB is calculated. This calculation can be performed based on the length (e.g., 10 m), the dimension L1 (e.g., 0.5 m) of the continuous web WB, and the number and distance of the dancer rolls 230.

Subsequently, the production line 10 places the absorber AB at a predetermined interval (dimension L1) on the continuous web WB conveyed by the conveyer 110 (S30). The step of disposing the absorber AB is performed in parallel with the processing of steps S10 and S20 described above.

The production line 10 uses the product cutter 120 to cut the continuous web WB on which the absorber AB is disposed at predetermined intervals in the machine direction MD in which the continuous web WB is transported (S40).

The manufacturing line 10 also determines whether the absorbent article PD cut by the product cutter 120 includes the seam P1 (S50). The manufacturing line 10 is configured such that the absorbent article PD is separated from the production line 10 by using the discharging device 130 and the absorbent article PD is manufactured And discharged in the middle of the line 10 (S60). On the other hand, if the joint P1 is not included, the production line 10 returns the absorbent article PD to the next process using the conveying device 110 (S70).

Further, as described above, the discharging device 130 can discharge only the absorbent article PD including the joint P1.

(4) Action / effect

According to the production line 10 according to the present embodiment, the joining portion P1 is formed on the basis of the length of the continuous web WB up to the cutting position P2 and the dimension L1 of the absorbent article PD, The supply timing of the continuous web WB is controlled so as to be located at the center portion CT of the absorbent article PD in the direction MD (conveying direction). Concretely, the accumulator 200 is used to control the stock amount of the continuous web WB, and the supply of the continuous web WB is controlled so that the seam P1 is located at the center portion CT.

Therefore, since it is avoided that the joint P1 is located over a plurality of (two) absorbent articles PD, only the absorbent article PD including the joint P1 can be discharged. Here, if the joint P1 is positioned at the end in the machine direction MD (conveying direction) of the absorbent article PD, the joint P1 may extend over the two absorbent articles PD, Since the absorbent article PD immediately before (or immediately after) the absorbent article PD may include defects (excessive wrinkles or irregularities, etc.) due to the fact that the absorbent article PD includes the joint P1, , It is necessary to discharge a plurality of absorbent articles (PD).

That is, according to the production line 10 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reliably discharge only the absorbent article PD including the joint P1 to avoid the discharge of a plurality of non-defective absorbent articles PD And the yield of the absorbent article PD can be improved.

The supply timing of the continuous web WB is changed according to the supply speed of the continuous web WB by the accumulator 200, more specifically, the plurality of dancer rolls 230 and the sensor 240, Is controlled. The accumulator 200 required for continuously supplying the continuous web WB without stopping the production line 10 is used so that the continuous web WB The supply can be controlled.

When the production speed of the absorbent article PD by the production line 10 is changed or the roll of the disk roll 210 or the disk roll 220 is changed at the time of switching from the disk roll 210 to the disk roll 220, It is possible to control the supply of the continuous web WB so that the joint P1 is located at the center portion CT even if the diameter or the weight is different.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of dancer rolls 230 are configured to expand and contract the distance between the dancer rolls 230 in the horizontal direction. Therefore, even when the distance between the plurality of dancer rolls 230 is enlarged or reduced, the plurality of dancer rolls 230 are hardly influenced by the gravity, Respectively. In addition, it is particularly suitable in the case where the load application control is performed by a servo motor or the like in order to accurately apply the tension in the dancer roll 230.

(5) Other Embodiments

As described above, the contents of the present invention have been disclosed through the embodiments of the present invention, but the description and drawings constituting part of this disclosure should not be construed as limiting the present invention. From this disclosure various alternative embodiments, embodiments and operational techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

For example, as a mechanism for positioning the joint portion P1 in the central portion CT, it is not necessary to use the dancer roll 230 necessarily, and a mechanism separate from the dancer roll 230 may be used for positioning the continuous web WB The storage amount may be controlled.

The discharging device 130 for discharging the absorbent article PD may be constructed using only a guide bar or may be constructed using only a suction type belt conveyor Maybe.

The production line 10 shown in Fig. 1 is a simplified production process of the absorbent article PD. In the production line 10, various other processes (for example, elastic members Of course) may be included.

Thus, it goes without saying that the present invention includes various embodiments not described here. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention is determined only by the inventive matters according to the proper claims from the above description.

The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-147780 (filed on July 1, 2011) are incorporated herein by reference.

Industrial availability

According to the features of the present invention, it is possible to provide an absorbent article discharging method capable of improving the yield by reliably discharging only the absorbent article including the joint portion.

10: Manufacturing line 110:
120: product cutter 130: discharge device
200: accumulator 210, 220: disk roll
230: Dancer roll 240: Sensor
250: motor 260: timing controller
310: detection control unit 311: camera
AB: absorber P1: joint
P2: Cutting position PD: Absorbent article
WB: Continuous Web

Claims (4)

Disposing an absorber on a continuous web to be conveyed,
A step of cutting the continuous web on which the absorber is disposed at predetermined intervals in a conveying direction in which the continuous web is conveyed;
A step of forming a joint portion in which the end portion of the continuous web is joined to the start end portion of the next continuous web
A method of discharging an absorbent article used in a production line of an absorbent article,
Based on the length of the continuous web from the joint portion to the cutting position of the continuous web in the cutting step and the dimension of the absorbent article in the transport direction of the continuous web, Controlling the supply timing of the continuous web so as to be located at the center of the absorbent article in the absorbent article,
Releasing only the absorbent article including at least the joint from the production line, and discharging the absorbent article in the middle of the production line. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of controlling the supply timing,
A dancer roll for imparting tension to the continuous web being conveyed,
A sensor for detecting the position of the dancer roll,
A motor for controlling the supply speed of the continuous web based on the position of the dancer roll detected by the sensor,
Wherein the supply timing of the continuous web is controlled by using the continuous web. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein in the step of forming the joint part, an accumulator for storing and discharging the continuous web is used as the distances between the plurality of dancer rolls are expanded and reduced,
Wherein the plurality of dancer rolls expand and contract the distance in the horizontal direction. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the central portion of the absorbent article is a region of 30% or less of the dimension of the absorbent article from the center of the absorbent article in the carrying direction Discharge method.

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